How did you like that little test that Gideon set forth using the sheep fleece? Even though as we read in the Gospels, we are not to test our God...hmmm
Matthew 4:7
Judges 7: 7And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.8So the people took victuals(Their packs, and/or food) in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel, every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
Now it is time according to God, God tells Gideon that night, to go down to the Midians, and if you are afraid (remember he's a afraidy cat) take your servant Phurah with you and LISTEN. In the Bible it says they where numbered as the sand by the seashore...can you imagine?
13 And when Gideon was come , behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said , Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian,and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell , and overturned it, that the tent lay along .14 And his fellow answered and said , This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
And Gideon heard this and rejoiced! He probably did one of those dances like you see football players do when they are in the end zone after scoring a touchdown! So Gideon and his servant go back to his 300 man army and divides it into three sections, and he loaded 100 of them down with their trumpets and pitchers and there were lamps inside the pitchers. Hmmm...And he tells the men that they are to do as he does...and that they are to go and encircle the Midians camp and Gideon was going to blow his trumpet and the men likewise, and then yell, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" Then brake the pitchers and hold the lamps in their left hands and hold their trumpets in the right and blow, and then all 300 are to blow there trumpets and brake their pitchers and hold their lamps.21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host (This is the Midians) ran, and cried, and fled .22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host (Remember the host is the Midians.) fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
This seems a pretty decisive victory, wouldn't you say? So then we proceed to Chapter 8, and Gideon's fellows are chiding him, why didn't you let us help? They still don't understand that this was done in this way to show the glory of God!3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that . So now Gideon and his 300 men are still pursing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.His men are famished and so Gideon ask for food from the Princes of Succoth, they say NO, so Gideon proceeds to Penuel, they also said NO. This is not pleasing to Gideon, I believe his problem with fear is abating a bit, wouldn't you agree?So Gideon's ire is raised a bit...unto the people of Succoth he said: 7 Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into minehand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.And to the people of Penuel he said:9 When I come again in peace, I will breakdown this tower.So Gideon and his men pursed after the Midians and Zebah and Zalmunna...10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts (Army, the Midians) with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah,and smote the host: for the host was secure.Okay Gideon got rid of the Midian Army but the Kings had escaped...so Gideon and his men continue to purse after them...When he finally had the kings in tow and he had dealt with the people and leaders of Succoth and Penuel, he went to the Kings and had a chat:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor? And they answered , As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.19 And he said, They were my brothers, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive , I would not slay you.20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said , Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose , and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also: for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.But what did Gideon say, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you." (Judges 8: 23b).He did ask the men for the gold of their prey and Gideon made an ephod (This was a kind of apron that was worn by the high priest ) with this melted down gold and, now these are my thoughts, this must have been a very large ephod and not at all one that could be worn by a regular sized priest, so wouldn't this have become just another idle to be worshiped? So Gideon did learn to deal with his fear, and he did learn to rely on God, but he created another idle...oh Gideon...But God had Gideon rule over Israel for 40 years...
If you have any thoughts regarding what you have read hear and would like to discuss them...sent to me a message, I would love to hear from you.
Blessings on you all & keep the Lord uppermost in your thoughts & actions this fine day!
Matthew 4:7
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
and from one of my favorite places to go for understanding and clarification, www.enduringword.com :
c. It is written again, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Jesus replied with Scripture, but applied correctly. He knew that attempting to force or manipulating God the Father into such a demonstration would tempt God, which the Scriptures strictly forbid.
Okay I will have to admit...I am still a little bit confused on this matter, any words of wisdom please drop a note to me...please...oh well onward!
So Gideon did receive an answer, perhaps not the one he was looking for, but an answer none the less! Alright so Gideon had an army of approximately 32,000 men, now that does seem a fair amount, however, God says, "Too many, Gideon, you need to reduce this number..." Actually the Bible says:
Judges 7: 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying , Whosoever is fearful and afraid,let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
So Gideon is now down to 10,000 men, that to me seems still a good number, but remember in chapter 6: 16 And the Lord said unto him, surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
10,000 is still a far number from what the Lord has in mind.
10,000 is still a far number from what the Lord has in mind.
I love what the Lord tells Gideon to do next...So the Lord says to Gideon, tell the men to go down to the waters edge and there I will direct you again on whom is to stay and whom is to go home...so Gideon instructs the men to go to the waters edge. And the Lord tells Gideon to tell the men to drink up, and any of them that put their faces down to the water and lap the water as a dog, they are to stay and the ones the lift the water to their mouths' with their hands, they are the ones to go home...uh oh...Gideon's Army is suddenly down to 300 men! I bet Gideon was thinking, "Okay God, but only with your help..." Well that is the whole point! God want's us to rely on Him. So He gave a small army for Gideon to really see the glory of God in this whole thing, Yeah God!
You know, when you read this, I really do not want you to think that I think that war is a funny thing, but I can't help but think that God really does use humor to instruct us. The Midianites were a huge group and God wants Gideon to destroy them with only 300 men! You have got to realize that Gideon has got to be thinking WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
BUT GOD, two of my favorite words, knows beyond any doubt what He is doing...
Now it is time according to God, God tells Gideon that night, to go down to the Midians, and if you are afraid (remember he's a afraidy cat) take your servant Phurah with you and LISTEN. In the Bible it says they where numbered as the sand by the seashore...can you imagine?
13 And when Gideon was come , behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said , Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian,and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell , and overturned it, that the tent lay along .14 And his fellow answered and said , This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
And Gideon heard this and rejoiced! He probably did one of those dances like you see football players do when they are in the end zone after scoring a touchdown! So Gideon and his servant go back to his 300 man army and divides it into three sections, and he loaded 100 of them down with their trumpets and pitchers and there were lamps inside the pitchers. Hmmm...And he tells the men that they are to do as he does...and that they are to go and encircle the Midians camp and Gideon was going to blow his trumpet and the men likewise, and then yell, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" Then brake the pitchers and hold the lamps in their left hands and hold their trumpets in the right and blow, and then all 300 are to blow there trumpets and brake their pitchers and hold their lamps.21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host (This is the Midians) ran, and cried, and fled .22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host (Remember the host is the Midians.) fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
This seems a pretty decisive victory, wouldn't you say? So then we proceed to Chapter 8, and Gideon's fellows are chiding him, why didn't you let us help? They still don't understand that this was done in this way to show the glory of God!3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that . So now Gideon and his 300 men are still pursing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.His men are famished and so Gideon ask for food from the Princes of Succoth, they say NO, so Gideon proceeds to Penuel, they also said NO. This is not pleasing to Gideon, I believe his problem with fear is abating a bit, wouldn't you agree?So Gideon's ire is raised a bit...unto the people of Succoth he said: 7 Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into minehand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.And to the people of Penuel he said:9 When I come again in peace, I will breakdown this tower.So Gideon and his men pursed after the Midians and Zebah and Zalmunna...10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts (Army, the Midians) with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah,and smote the host: for the host was secure.Okay Gideon got rid of the Midian Army but the Kings had escaped...so Gideon and his men continue to purse after them...When he finally had the kings in tow and he had dealt with the people and leaders of Succoth and Penuel, he went to the Kings and had a chat:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor? And they answered , As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.19 And he said, They were my brothers, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive , I would not slay you.20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said , Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose , and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also: for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.But what did Gideon say, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you." (Judges 8: 23b).He did ask the men for the gold of their prey and Gideon made an ephod (This was a kind of apron that was worn by the high priest ) with this melted down gold and, now these are my thoughts, this must have been a very large ephod and not at all one that could be worn by a regular sized priest, so wouldn't this have become just another idle to be worshiped? So Gideon did learn to deal with his fear, and he did learn to rely on God, but he created another idle...oh Gideon...But God had Gideon rule over Israel for 40 years...
If you have any thoughts regarding what you have read hear and would like to discuss them...sent to me a message, I would love to hear from you.
Blessings on you all & keep the Lord uppermost in your thoughts & actions this fine day!
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